February 2009: God Makes a Way
It is a summery February in Luanda, the capital of Angola where Global Ministries missionary Donna Dudley has worked since 2007. Donna relates, “On the first Sunday in February 2008, I was blessed to see evidence of a rising up and building at St. John’s Church on the outskirts of Luanda. What a vital faith community in which people celebrated God’s presence and power in their midst!
February 2009 Bulletin Insert Format [PDF]Febrero 2009 en español
“Let us rise up and build!” Nehemiah 2:18
It is a summery February in Luanda, the capital of Angola where Global Ministries missionary Donna Dudley has worked since 2007. Donna relates, “On the first Sunday in February 2008, I was blessed to see evidence of a rising up and building at St. John’s Church on the outskirts of Luanda. What a vital faith community in which people celebrated God’s presence and power in their midst! The congregation had some time ago outgrown their church building and was worshipping, a few meters away from the original building in a much larger church in progress. The basic supports for the structure were in place; a balcony of Sunday school rooms was framed out, and the roof topped it off. The walls will come later, but the people gathered to worship, to build each other up, and to bring life and hope to their community. That Sunday morning was a reminder that God’s work is, indeed, a work in progress to which each of us has been asked to lend a hand. I am very grateful God provided this opportunity in Angola to use some of the threads of my life at 62, to contribute to the weaving of a new social fabric of life.”
Donna’s first challenge was to learn Portuguese, an important part of working with people in a spirit of equality and partnership. She is assigned to the Department of Social Assistance of the Evangelical Congregational Church in Angola (IECA). Donna is program assistant in fund raising to IECA’s community outreach arm that addresses issues such as: extending health care; opening doors for education and training; creating sustainable development projects; and working to further reconciliation among people and justice in rebuilding communities as Angola begins its recovery from the legacy of colonialism and 27 years of civil war. Donna concludes, “I am impressed with IECA’s clear commitment – in its strategic plan and in its daily life – to the full expression of God’s Good News that all of life is to be redeemed.”
We pray with Donna that God’s people in Angola will maintain courage and strength to move forward in the faith that God will continue to make a way.
Rev. Donna Dudley is a missionary with the Evangelical Congregational Church of Angola, assisting in development projects and staff leadership training programs.